Scarab with the goddess Neith

Unknown

ca. 1295–1070 B.C. · Faience · Egyptian Art

Neith is the main goddess of Lower Egypt, with a major cult center in the Delta site Sais. She was worshipped as a hunting and warrior goddess (hence her symbol, two crossing bows) and as a mother goddess. Here, Neith is represented standing, wearing a knee-length dress and the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, while she holds a long papyrus stem in her left hand. The accompanying hieroglyphs form one of her divine epithets, the Great Lady. The back of the scarab shows no indications for the wings of the beetle, but two small papyrus stems are engraved on the sides.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1295–1070 B.C.

Medium

Faience

Department

Egyptian Art

Credit line

Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910